Assessment of a nanobiofungicide with antimicrobial potential against mycopathogenic Fusarium species

Abstract

Objectives: In the current study, a new potential nanobiofungicide was investigated as hybrid composite antifungals; zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) in combination with microbial hydrolytic enzymes (Chitinases). Methods: The Chitinase enzyme was achieved from a local isolate, which was identified as Bacillus licheniformis AG-W3. The enzyme production was achieved after 72 h of incubation at pH 7.5 and temperature 45 °C. The mean diameter of the synthesized nanoparticles (38–76 nm) was established by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM). Additionally, their antifungal activity was evaluated against Fusarium species. Results: Based on the results obtained, ZNPs amended with Chitinase at 0.1 % concentrations showed the strongest inhibitory effect (89.1 %). A synergistic effect of Chitinase (0.03U/ml) in combination with ZNPs (0.005 %) was observed up to 89.1 %. The SEM results exhibits agglomerated spherical particles due to high surface energy. The average size calculated for calcined zinc nanoparticles are (38–76 nm) and this is in good agreement with the XRD results (Eq. (1): 46 nm). Conclusions: It was concluded that the combination of ZNPs with Chitinase enzyme exhibits enhanced antifungal activity compared to their individual effects, considered a new alternative for synthetic fungicides. The development of novel nanocomposites for sustainable management of fungal diseases can mitigate the emergence of persistent and resilient fungal diseases and the crop losses that they cause. In addition, the importance of the current study was to establishing a consortium of chitinolytic microorganisms and nanoparticles appears to bring superior outcomes in fighting fungal phytopathogens, and also a potential alternative to these chemical pesticides, residing in soil and already the part of endophytic microbiome, have minimum altering effect on ecosystem.

Keywords

• Microbial Chitinases
• Nanoparticles
• Plant protection
• Nanobiofungicide